Lamps



G. MOSS Deb. 23, 1958 LAMPS 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Sept. 24, 1956INVENTOR GERALD MOSS ATTORNEY Dec. 23, 1958 Filed Sept. 24, 1956 G. MOSS2,866,086

LAMPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .'|.=:-E| INVENTOR GERALD MOSS BY W? ATTORNEYUnited States Patent LAMPS Gerald Moss, San Francisco, Calif.

Application September 24, 1956, Serial No. 611,501

Claims. (Cl. 24081) This invention relates to a lamp having a leaninglight transmissive pedestal supporting a light source thereabove, offsetfro-m the center of a base on which it is mounted. Such lamp may be usedas an ordinary lamp for vertical illumination, or as a so called torchlamp, usually Without substantial interference beneath the upper lightby the pedestal. More particularly the leaning, obliquely ascendingpedestal portion for lamp support, itself comprises a light transmissivehousing providing lateral illamination, preferably from at least onefluorescent tube as a light source therein.

Thus the lamp hereof provides vertical illumination from a light sourceabove the pedestal, generally free from interference by the leaningpedestal, and lateral illumination from at leastsome of the lighttransmissive sides of the pedestal from the light source, preferably oneor more elongated fluorescent tubes, within the pedestal, therebyproviding a lamp of great attractiveness and improved utility forillumination.

As the terms are used herein the words leaning pedestal or obliquelymounted pedestal are intendedto refer to a pedestal extending upwardfrom a base inclined thereto at an oblique angle of about 5 to 45,usually inclined to the vertical about to 30, a sufficient angle tosupport a light source such as a bulb and shade above the top of thepedestal and ofliset from the center of a large base portion, andsometimes at 'a point outside of a vertical line upward from the lampbase.

According to the present invention, a lamp is provided having asubstantially elongated hollow pedestal portion extending upward from abase, but leaning angularly from the vertical. The pedestal preferablyis substantially enlarged in horizontal section to house one or moreelon- 'gated sources of light, such as elongated fluorescent tubes,preferably mounted obliquely, usually parallel to the inclination of thepedestal in which each is housed. The pedestal preferably supports aboveits upper end a conventional light source, such as a bulb and shade. Foroptimum balance, to stably support the upper light source, a substantialdistance above the base, to comprise either a floor or table lamp, thepedestal preferably is substantially wider at the lower base portionend, tapering to the top. In a modification, for purposes of housingmore than one elongated fluorescent tube, the. pedestal may be formed astwo columnar housings, a lower column and an upper column, one beinglaterally offset from the other at an intermediate portion for optimumstable balance upon the base, to have an inclined or leaning pedestaleffect.

For optimum laterally directed illumination, the pedestal may be shapedas an inclined pyramid, truncated at the top, of any useful number ofsides but preferably rectangular, as shown in the drawings. That taperedor pyramidal construction as shown in Figs, 1 and 2 tends to concentratethe weight of the pedestal portion below the mid portion for greaterlamp stability. However, inthe modification of Figs. 3 and 4,substantial mediate portion of such pedestal.

2,866,086 Patented Dec. 23, 1958 ice stability together with certainother advantages are available by lateral off-setting of two housings,one above the other.

The rectangular, leaning or inclined hollow pedestal, as shown in thedrawings, is formed at least in substantial portion of lighttransmissive solid materials, most of which may be light translucent,but preferably some portion such as two of the four sides of thepedestal is either light'transparent, or has a greater lighttransmissivity than other portions of the pedestal. Such construction,transmits more concentrated illumination by light beams in certainlateral directions, while reducing glaring, and supplying softer lightthrough the less light transmissive pedestal portions.

Great advantages are available in a leaning pedestal lamp of thischaracter in that maximum utility results from an elongated pedestalportion to support a floor or table lamp thereab-ove, using such lamp ina versatile manner to illuminate objects over which the lamp leans aswell as the ceiling, like a torch lamp; and also or independently usingthe pedestal portion as an important lateral source of light. Thus thepedestal portion is a useful light source to supply lateral light,sometimes at intermediate heights of a non-glaring character. With theleaning pedestal, moreover, the lamp can be positioned close to oneseated on a chair or at a desk working position for use thereof usingvertical and horizontal light Without directing glaring lighthorizontally into the eyes of the user of such lamp. Again that leaningpedestal effect allows such lamp usefully to be mounted in a cornerposition both as a torch lamp to light the ceiling and direct lightdirectly downward, and for total lateral lighting of converging walls ofthe corner. The leaning effect of the pedestal allows mounting of eithera shelf upon which objects may be placed for attractive illuminationthereof, or the mounting of flowers in a pot at an inter- Where suchshelf or flowers are omitted, that intermediate portion may be occupiedby a desk or working table onwhich the lamp may be mounted close forintermediate lateral and vertical illumination.

Other features and advantages of a lamp constructed according to thisinvention will be inherent in the ensuing description which is made withreference to drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a side view of a leaning pedestal lamp in elevation with partsbroken away to show internal construction,

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the lamp of Fig. 1 illustrating a removablepanel upon which a fluorescent tube may be mounted for support andreplacement,

Fig. 3 is a side view in elevation of a modified leaning pedestal lampin which two laterally offset pedestal housings are mounted together asa single leaning pedestal, each housing a fluorescent light,

Fig. 4 is a front view of the lamp of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a detailed view of the panel of Fig. l showin assembly of afluorescent tube thereto,

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram for a single fluorescent tube combined in alamp as shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 7 is -a detail showing laminated light transmissive panelconstruction.

As shown in Fig. l a hollow base 10 comprising vertical leg panels 12joined in a quadralateral surmounted by horizontal plate 14 has mountedthereon a leaning pedestal 16. That base and leaning pedestal is formedin large part if not entirely of light transmissive sheet paneling,usually of plastic, secured together in the form of a leaningrectangular pyramid by adhesion or fusion of thermoplastic panelingpieces. The leaning pyramid is truncated at the top and supports a panelpiece 18, the entire pyramid being supported upon a horizontal panelpiece 20 at the leaning pedestal bottom ornamentally secured in leaningposition for optimum stability from about the rear edge of the basepanel or plate 14.

The leaning pyramidal rectangular pedestal construction comprises anassembly of four panels, that is, two end panels, one at the rear 22 andanother at the front 24 each comprising narrow strips, usually but notnecessarily of the same width, and two side panels, 26 at the front side(in this view partly broken away to show internal construction) and 28,at the opposite rear side. The side panels 26 and 28 are secured to theend panels 22 and 24 by reenforcing marginal strips 30 and 32 at eachside as well as 34 at the bottom.

As indicated, all of the pedestal paneling may be formed of lighttransmissive plastic. It is preferred that at least the front and sidepanels 24, 26 and 28 of the lamp be the light transmissive, but thesepanels, to avoid lateral glare and visibility of internal constructionmay each be light translucent rather than transparent. Thus the internalconstruction and mounting of fluorescent lamps within the leaningpedestal may not be directly observed. However, it is further preferredthat the side panels 26 and 28 have a greater light transmissivity thanthe forward panel 24 for direction of more intense illumination fromthese two opposite sides. The forward panel 24, together with verticalreenforcing strips 30 and 34 may have the same low degree of lighttransmissivity, and have a substantially lower light transmissivity thanthe side panels 26 and 28. The advantage of this is that most of thedistribution of light non-glaringly but of higher intensity forillumination ,will take place through the side panels 26 and 28, havingthe higher light transmissivity, yet such light is diffused suificientto be non-glaring, thereby allowing great lateral but very usefulillumination of the lamp from the pedestal. The lamp may be placed upona table as a table lamp, or close to a table or desk. The forward panel24 desirably shields the forward end from large light transmissivity,yet provides considerable lateral illumination, whereby the lamppedestal provides useful lateral illumination while shielding the frontend from high intensity light passed directly forward to effect thislateral variation in light intensity. The rear panel 22 may have evenless light transmissivity to prevent shadows of internal elements frombecoming visible, and for that purpose may even be opaque.

The panels 26 and 28 may be formed of light transmissive sheet materialsuch as plastic sheet, which may be any of the plastic film substances.As shown in detail Fig. 7, the sheet paneling may have embedded thereinfiberous materials of various plastic types, preferably fiber glasswhich greatly reenforces such thin film. That thin light transmissivefilm comprising panels 26 and 28 may also be formed of parchment, glazedpaper or including giassine, which has reinforcing fibers embeddedtherein. However, it is preferred to use, for additional reenforcement,a laminate-of two or more thin films adhered together, each having fiberembedded in the film, using a transparent adhesive coated as an adhesivelayer for bonding the thin films together as a laminate.

As illustrated in the detail Fig. 7, the laminate comprises an uppersheet 36 adhered to a lower sheet 38 by an intermediate layer ofadhesive 40. Fiber glass or other reinforcing fiber 42 is distributed inthe sheet material and the adhesive. The fiber serves to reduce thenatural transparent character of the film and adhesive substances to thedesired degree.

The paneling 22 and 24 as well as reenforcing strips 30 and 34 may beformed of acrylic resin of relatively heavy gage for supporting thestresses required in this lamp construction, such being available underthe trade name Plexiglass. Other plastic materials, such as styreneandstyrene modified polyester resins may be used for this-purpose;

Secured for support to the pedestal above the panel 18 is a light bulband shade supporting socket 44 in which a bulb 46 is threaded andsupporting thereabout a glass shade 48 for directing unshaded lightupward, as in a torch lamp, and diffuse light directly downward. Thesocket 44 has a conventional electric switch for control of current tobulb 46, operated by a knob 50.

In the construction as shown in Fig. 1, the rear panel 22 is removablyfastened to the pedestal by screws 53 to cross braces 52 which maylikewise be formed of plastic secured laterally to the reenforcingstrips 30. The panel 22, entirely removable by unfastening the screws 53from the cross braces 52, has mounted thereto a long fluorescent lamptube 54. Fluorescent tube 54 is secured at opposite ends in conventionalfluorescent tube contact supports 56 which both support the tubesecurely and removably against the panel 22, but further supportelectrical wiring leads and switches 58 and 60 against that panel'22 forcircuit control of current to fluorescent tube 54. Removable panel 22thereby supports lateral lighting the entire assembly, comprising thefluorescent tube 54 and current regulating and wiring means, including astarter 70 and sometimes a ballast 66,. all s'ecured to the panel 22, sothat the entire assembly may be removed from the lamp pedestal forreplacement of the fluorescent tube and repairs to the wiring whenneeded.

If desired, another hand operated switch 60 may be mounted on the panel22 for control of the total input circuit both to the lateral lightingtube 54 as well as the vertical light 46. Thus three switches areprovided, a switch 50 for control of current to the upper light bulb 46,a switch 58 for control of current to the fluorescent tube 54 in thepedestal, and a control switch 60 for control of both whereby a singleswitch position may opcrate both lights or either the upper light 46 byactuation of switch 50, or the fluorescent lamp 54 by actuation ofswitch 58 may be independently lighted. Thus the lateral fluorescentlight may be the primary choice of light, or the upper light bulb 46maybe the primary source of light, or both may be used in combination inmost usual use.

The actual wiring of this lamp is shown in detail in Fig. 6. Aconventional plug inlet 62 having a switch 60 in its circuit may passcurrent directly to lamp bulb 46, individually controlled by a switch50. An independent circuit taking current from the main circuit thrulines 64 and passes current to one lead of a ballast 66 and thence toone contact 67 of the fluorescent lamp bulb 54. Two other opposite endsof the tube 54 are interconnected through contacts 68 by way of astarter 70 of conventional construction. The fourth lead 72 of thefluorescent tube is connected to the other main circuit input line 74 byway of switch 58 for independent actuation of the fluorescent lightcircuit. As shown in the dotted line position Fig. l, the ballast 66 maybe mounted in the hollow lamp base 10, that lamp base being sulficientlyopaque, so that the ballast element is not visible. However, it may bemounted against the panel 22, if desired.

It will be seen that in Fig. 1 the fluorescent tube 54 is a singlereadily replaceable tube, by removal of the panel 22 extending almostfrom one end to the other and parallel thereto in the inclined positionthereof. In that position, most of the weight of the tube 54 and theoperating units at the bottom are below the center of the pedestaltending thereby to balance the lamp on the base, since the pedestal ismounted from the rear thereof to readily distribute the weight forgreater lamp stability. This Weight distribution tends to ofiset theupper lamp portion 48 so that the upper source of illumination desirablyfalls outside of the center of the base, but the lamp structure,notwithstanding has good stability.

The lamp of Fig; 1, due tothe inclination of the pedestal, is welladapted for placing close to a desk from the floor, or upon a desk as atable lamp, for use of the light available from both sources i. e., fromthe pedestal portion directed laterally of the highly light transmissivepaneling, including some illumination from the forward translucentportion 24, and from the upper lamp portion from bulb 46 which supplieslight downward upon such table or desk. For other uses, it is sometimesdesirable to mount shelf portion 76 from any intermediate height of thelamp which serves the purpose of a support for objects to beilluminated. That shelf portion 76 may be reenforced for support byvertical paneling 78, including a web 80 of decorative character, shownhere as having corrugations. The panel 78 may be divided and flared intoa receptacle 82 for further support of the shelf 76 or, omitting theshelf 76, that receptacle 82 may receive flowers to enhance thedecorative effect, as shown in Fig. 3. Moreover, as shown in Fig. 3, thetranslucent shade 48 may further have a conventional lamp shade 84mounted thereabout for directing and shading of light, except light inthe vertical direction, including downward upon such shelf mountedobject, or flowers.

In another embodiment of this invention, as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4,the inclined pedestal comprises a single inclined central shaft 86extending from the base to the upper light source. That shaft 86 has asinglepanel88 closing a hollow rectangular interior and is removablysecured thereto by screws 90. Adjacent to the rear side of the upperend, a rectangular pyramid 92 rises from about the vertical midpoint ofthe leaning pedestal shaft 86, and is enclosed at the bottom and ends bytranslucent paneling 96 of the type shown in Fig. 7, thus to form apyramidal housing to the upper rear of the leaning pedestal shaft 86. Asimilar, but inverted housing portion 98 begms near the bottom of theupper housing portion, shaped as an inverted pyramid disposed below theupper pyramid on the forward or front side of the pedestal shaft 86,continuing from the midpoint down to about the bottom plate 20. Sincethe leaning pedestal shaft 86 of itself substantially supports bothupper and lower pyramidal housings, the forward lower pyramidal housing98 to the right side of the shaft 86 of Fig. 3 may have an inversetaper, being wider at the top than at the bottom.

The pedestal shaft 86 is reenforced by sheet paneling 100 at the rear asa bracket support therefor in its inclined vertical position from thebase and further reinforced at the forward end by the adjacent narrowerlower housing portion of the lower housing 98. Thus two pyramidalhousings are mounted on either side of a single leaning pedestal shaft86, and one or preferably both of these housings have mounted therein afluorescent tube 54a and 54b, each may, as desired, be independentlycontrolled by light switches 58 and 59. According to this construction,strong lateral illumination is provided through side panels 96 (or 26 asin the construction of Figs. 1 and 2), while providing independent lightsources in both lower and upper housings comprising the pedestal. Inthis modification, each tube may be separately replaced by removing ofthe single panel 88. Great attractiveness and utility is provided in alamp of this modified type by being able independently to illuminateeither the lower half of the pedestal or the upper half of the pedestalfrom independent current controlling switches 58 and 59 or if, desired,both lamps may be controlled from a single switch 60 as shown in Fig. 1.

The upper end of the lower housing 98 forms a space upon which a shelf76 may be mounted as in Fig. 1 for optimum illumination, both laterallyand vertically of objects placed thereon; or, for improvedattractiveness, the upper portion of that lower housing may comprise ahollow pot 82 as a base for flowers or other ornamental objectsattractively illuminated in this manner. It is possible, particularly,where the leaning pedestal is greatly elongated such as for floor lampuse, to omit the light 6 source in the lower pedestal portion wherebyonly the upper housing provides lateral illumination. It is alsopossible, since end panels 94, 22' or 24 desirably have decreased lighttransmissivity, that they have high light reflectivity, even mirror-likelight reflective surfaces.

There are many advantages to a lamp of this offset pedestal constructionoutstanding of which is the improved balance available from offsettingone pedestal portion from the other to obtain stability in a greatlyelongated leaning pedestal.

As thus described, a lamp having great utility for many purposes isprovided wherein a pedestal is constructed elongated and obliquelyleaning to support above the top thereof a lamp bulb usually with ashade for vertical illumination. That leaning pedestal is constructedfor the most part of light transmissive'material to provide lateralillumination from the pedestal per se. In preferred construction thepedestal is formed of light transmissive side paneling having greaterlight transmissivity than that of end panels, whereby the lateral lightsource has greater utility. In a modification the pedestal is dividedinto laterallyoflfset vertically superimposed sections for improvedbalance and greater stability to provide light laterally of the pedestalfrom upper or lower sections, or both, as desired. The pedestal ispreferably illuminated by fluorescent tubes preferably mounted inclinedtherein whereby to provide one or more light sources elongatedsubstantially the length of the leaning pedestal.

Certain modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, andaccordingly it is intended that the description herein given be regardedas illustrative and not limiting, except as defined in the claimsappended hereto.

I claim:

1. A lamp comprising a base, a housing comprising an elongated truncatedsubstantially pyramidal body having four sides, at least two of whichcomprise substantially flat surfaced light transmissive panels, saidhousing being mounted to said base to extend upwardly therefrom at asubstantial angle of inclination from the vertical, at least oneelongated fluorescent tube mounted within said housing substantiallyparallel to its angle of inclination whereby to provide largefluorescent lateral surface area illumination through the said lighttransmissive side panels of said substantially pyramidal housing, asecond source of illumination mounted above and supported by saidhousing and bracketing means mounted to an inclined side stably securingsaid housing to the base in its inclined position, said bracketing meanscomprising a vertical member extending from the base to a point belowabout the center of the vertical height of said housing.

2. A lamp comprising a base, a light transmissive housing comprising anelongated truncated substantially pyramidal body mounted invertedly tosaid base to pyramidally slant from a smaller horizontal portion uponsaid base to a wider-housing portion upwardly therefrom, with saidhousing leaning upwardly from said base at a substantial angle ofinclination from the vertical, said housing being formed ofsubstantially flat light transmissive side panels, at least oneelongated fluorescent light mounted in said housing substantiallyparallel to said angle of inclination of said housing whereby to radiatefluorescent light from large flat surface areas of said lighttransmissive side panels laterally of said housing, a second source ofillumination supported by and secured above said housing and abracketing member securing said housing in inclined position to saidbase.

3. A lamp comprising a base forming a stable support for said lamp, apedestal extending obliquely upward from said base, a source ofillumination supported by said pedestal above its upper end, severalsources of illumination supported at intermediate heights of saidpedestal, each intermediate height source of illumination comprising anelongated fluorescent light extending substantiallyparallel to saidpedestal, a substantially pyramidally shaped light transmissive housingsurrounding each fluorescent light,

each said housing being formed of substantially plane surfaced lighttransmissive panels whereby to provide large lateral fluorescentillumination from said large sub stantially fiat surfaces areas of saidhousing panels.

4. A lamp comprising a base forming a stable support for said lamp, apedestalextending obliquely upward from said base, a source ofillumination supported by said pedestal above its upper end, two sourcesof illumination supported at successively disposed intermediate heightsof said pedestal, each said intermediate light source consisting of anelongated fluorescent light mounted substantially parallel to theinclined pedestal, each on an opposite side of said pedestal in theplane of inclination thereof, a substantially light transmissive housingsurrounding each fluorescent light, each said housing being formed ofsubstantially plane surfaced light transmissive panels whereby toprovide large lateral fluorescent illumination from said large flatsurfaced areas of said housing panels.

5. A lamp comprising a base, a hollow rectangular light transmisssivepedestal mounted on said base having at least two of its opposite sidesextending upward from the base at an angle substantially inclined tothe, vertical whereby to impart a substantially pyramidal shape to saidpedestal, said housing being formed at least in part of substantiallyfiat light transmissive panels to provide large lateral surface areaillumination, a second substantially pyramidally shaped rectangularhousing mounted above said first housing and offset laterally therefrom,

said second housing similarly formed of substantially flat surfacedlight transmissive paneling. an elongated fluorescent light mounted ineach housing at substantially theangle of inclination of each, and anadditional source of illumination supported by and above the uppermosthousmg.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1).152,849 Aulich Mar. '1, 1949 D. 179,694 Moss Feb. 12, 1957 1,268,145Pease June 4, 1918" 1,721,176: Campo July 16. 1929 2,038,817 WiedenhoeftApr. 28, 1-936 2,089,091 Godfrey Aug. 3, 1937 2,289,057 Lane July 7,1942 2,303,758 Pieper Dec. 1, 1942 2,744,192 Rosenthal May 1, 19562,793,286 Stifiel May 21, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 944,833 F'rance' Mar. 26,1947 1,103,053 France Apr. 13, 1954 OTHER REFERENCES Advertisement,Westinghouse Elec. Corp., type EBC- Luminaire Hood, published May 1953.

Advertisement, Sylvania Elec. Co., type CP-247 Fluorescent Fixture,published April 1949.

